GUBBIO
gubbio was founded by the umbrians, conquered by the romans, refortified in the early middle ages under the lombards, became independent in the later middle ages, and was conquered by the popes in the renaissance. Sound familiar? it is the story of almost all of the umbrian towns. luckily for gubbio, when redevelopment happened in the 20th century, it happened in the valley down from the old town, which is nicely preserved.
gubbio's most famous sight is its town hall, called the palazzo dei consoli,
built in the 14th century on such a steep slope that views of it from different
angles make it look almost like different buildings. it now houses the civic
museum, which includes seven bronze tablets from the 2nd century b.C., describing
umbrian religious rites.
the view from the piazza outside of the town hall is superb.
elsewhere, too, the town betrays its medieval heydays.
only one of the medieval towers survives,
though.
remnants of its walls and some gates
also still survive.
because much of gubbio is built on
such a steep slope,
its streets include passages under buildings.
in one of the churches in town
were these incredible medieval frescoes. Top: a knight rides through the countryside
amidst peasants driving a wagon and working in the fields, with a fortified
town (gubbio?) in the background. Middle: a bishop is martyred by soldiers,
while woodsmen chop timber beyond. bottom: a woman throws a child into a vat
of boiling water, while a cat investigates a basket at her feet.
outside
of medieval gubbio were the remains of the roman amphitheater.
off the road to gubbio was a well
preserved medieval castle.